This is how I've thought about the issue, put much better than I could say it. We are conscious because we need to think like other people, and to do that we ne

This is how I've thought about the issue, put much better than I could say it. We are conscious because we need to think like other people, and to do that we need to understand (as best we can) why we ourselves do what we do. Interestingly this leads to consciousness as simply an awareness of our own mind, rather than necessarily being in control of it as most people believe. However, many studies provide evidence that our conscious mind is not the only or primary decision maker in our heads.